Understanding The Hp Encryption Smart Card Security System; What Is The Encryption Smart Card Security System; What Is A Smart Card; What Is Encryption - HP OmniBook 7100 User Manual

Understanding the HP Encryption Smart Card
Security System

What is the Encryption Smart Card Security System?

The Encryption Smart Card Security System is an accessory for your OmniBook
that uses smart card technology to provide smart card protected logon for Windows
NT and strong file encryption on Windows NT and Windows 95. The Encryption
Smart Card Security System consists of a smart card reader which inserts into a
PCMCIA slot on your OmniBook, and a smart card in which to store information
that ensures that only you can access your OmniBook and read the files you have
chosen to protect.

What is a smart card?

A smart card is a credit-card-sized card which carries a microchip containing
memory and a microprocessor. The card's microchip lies beneath gold contact pads
and when the card is inserted in a smart card reader, the contents of the microchip
can be read and interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the application. A
Personal Identification Number (PIN) is normally needed to "unlock" the contents
of the microchip, meaning that only the person who knows the PIN can use the card.

What is Encryption?

Encryption is simply taking intelligible data and making it unintelligible by using a
mathematical function and a unique key. To return the data to intelligible form, we
use the same mathematical function and the same key. Therefore only the holder of
the key can take the unintelligible data and make it intelligible.
The type of encryption used in the HP Encryption System provides confidentiality,
as no one but the holder of the key can read the data.
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